August Weekend in Chianti

I’m writing several new articles for our guide to Chianti and I think it’s a good idea to spend the weekend in the Chianti region to refresh memories and sensations of visiting the area. I have visited Chianti many times, but it will be fun to go back while I’m writing about it.

So on Saturday morning I’m planning to go to Greve in Chianti and visit the weekly market, a market that really impressed Grand Duke Leopold I back in the 19th century. Nowadays, it’s a big market with a vast range of local products, as well as clothing and flowers. For lunch, I want to tray the famous Mac Dario at the Antica Macelleria Cecchini in Panzano in Chianti. It is a 10 euro menu made of a 250gr hamburger with roast potatoes, vegetables and onions, bread and water. It’s the Tuscan alternative to fast food ;). After lunch I’ll move on to Castellina in Chianti and spend the night there. Saturday night is the “Calici di Stelle” event and I want to do wine tasting and enjoy good Tuscan food.

On Sunday I intend to visit Gaiole in Chianti and its surroundings with its famous castles and churches. My plan is to take a guided tour of the Castello di Brolio with wine tasting included. For lunch I want to go San Gusmè, a beautiful medieval town where there is an excellent trattoria, Sira e Remino. I love the Pici Cacio and Pepe, handmade spaghetti pasta dressed very simply with cheese and ground pepper. In the afternoon, I’ll then stop at the Castello di Vertine and at Badia Coltibuono and maybe have dinner there before coming back home.

I cross my fingers so that it won’t rain – hope you have a nice weekend as well!